In a groundbreaking collaboration, TomTom, the renowned location technology specialist, has joined forces with Microsoft to usher in a new era of innovation for the global automotive industry. Leveraging the remarkable strides made in artificial intelligence (AI) by Microsoft, TomTom has unveiled a fully integrated, AI-powered conversational automotive assistant designed to redefine the way drivers interact with their vehicles. This cutting-edge technology enables natural voice interactions, empowering drivers to seamlessly engage with infotainment systems, perform location searches, and control various vehicle commands, all through a single interaction.
At the heart of this transformative solution is the integration of Microsoft’s AI prowess, particularly the Azure OpenAI Service, which harnesses the capabilities of large language models. This collaboration has given rise to an intelligent automotive assistant that not only understands and responds to voice commands but also adds a layer of sophistication to navigation, infotainment, and in-car controls. Drivers can now instruct their vehicles to navigate to specific locations, identify stops along their route, and verbally command onboard systems to adjust settings such as temperature, window operations, or radio stations.
This innovative solution goes beyond voice interaction, as it is seamlessly integrated into TomTom’s Digital Cockpit—an open, modular in-vehicle infotainment platform. The marriage of Microsoft’s AI advancements and TomTom’s expertise in navigation technology has resulted in a cohesive and versatile system that enhances the overall in-vehicle experience for users.
The collaboration between TomTom and Microsoft dates back to 2016 when TomTom first powered Azure Maps location services. Over the years, their partnership expanded to include mapping data and services for Microsoft’s first-party maps. This evolution has culminated in the development of an AI-powered automotive assistant that represents a significant leap forward in the integration of AI and location-based services within the automotive sector.
Mike Schoofs, Chief Revenue Officer at TomTom, expressed the shared vision of the two companies in driving innovation with generative AI and delivering enhanced solutions to customers. By combining TomTom’s navigation and technology expertise with Microsoft’s AI capabilities, they have created a revolutionary way for individuals to interact with their vehicles. The aim is to provide drivers with a seamless and intuitive experience, where a single voice command can fulfill a multitude of requests.
Dominik Wee, Corporate Vice President for Manufacturing and Mobility at Microsoft, emphasized the unique opportunity presented by this next generation of AI to accelerate innovation across the entire automotive sector. The collaboration builds on the longstanding partnership between the two companies, with Microsoft and TomTom integrating their strengths to offer AI-powered tools that enable original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide highly differentiated and unique cockpit experiences while preserving their brand identity.
